Coaches

Zico WarD

Founder & Director of ZicoFC

Coaching Experience

After a long time playing, Brent fell right into coaching, Coaching has been the clear and obvious next progression for Brent, combining the game he loves with his love for coaching kids. At 15 years-old, Brent was fortunate enough to start collecting a lot of coaching experience. From ages of 15 to 22, Brent coached 6 years of summer camps, and 2 years of boys and girls high school soccer. In the following 2 years, Brent was the assistant coach for a division 1 women’s program. Fast-forward to today, Brent coached multiple years in an indoor soccer school, and held a Director of Coaching position for 22-plus years.

Playing Experience

After 4 years of playing NCAA division 1 soccer at Liberty University, Brent was drafted into professional soccer. In 1993, he was drafted in the 1st round of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) which unfortunately folded that same year. He was also drafted by the Milwaukee Wave of the Major Indoor Soccer League

Education and Certifications

After 28 years of coaching full-time, and an additional 9 years coaching part-time, Brent has amassed a number of certifications through both the USSF and NSCAA (USC). While in school, he received a BS in History, with a minor in Psychology.

Personal Life

Brent is married with 2 children. He loves the outdoors, card games, and obviously soccer with his family and friends. He and his family have been attending, and actively serving at Grace Church of Arvada, for 25 years! Their Christian Faith is the basis for their life.

Brent “Zico” Ward has spent the past 3 years beginning a new soccer endeavor. He currently coaches both his children, and has started the ZicoFC Camps. When Brent was 3 years old, his family moved to the Brazilian Amazon. From this point on, he’s had a life-long love for the game

Tristan Jackson

Coach Tristan is a highly experienced soccer coach who has been coaching for over 18 years and is currently coaching with the Denver Kickers. Tristan has proven to be one of the top youth soccer coaches, notably when it comes to the long term technical development of the player.

Beth Ward

Darci is a Colorado native who played soccer for Lakewood Fury/ Colorado Rush soccer clubs, winning 8 state and 1 national championships. She earned a soccer scholarship to the University of Colorado, where she was a four-year starter as a defender and won BIG12 championship. Darci has been coaching players of all ages since college, and currently coaches and teaches PE in the Golden area.

Darci Smercheck

Beth Ward is a former Division 1 college soccer player who also holds a BS in Nursing. She has coached high school girls and U8-U10 boys and girls for five years, receiving both her National Youth Diploma (USC) and National Youth License (USSF). Beth is married to Brent “Zico” Ward with two children and enjoys playing indoor soccer.

Bringing world class coaching to every level of the game.